OBLIGATIONS & CONTRACTS (1ST LECTURE)

ARTICLE 1156. An obligation is a juridical necessity to give, to do or not to do.

 It is a tie or bond recognized by law by virtue of which one is bound in favor of another to render
something – it may consist in giving a thing, doing a certain act, or not doing a certain act.
Civil Code definition

 It stresses the duty under the law of the debtor or obligor when it speaks of obligation as a
juridical necessity.
Juridical necessity

 Obligation is a juridical necessity because in case of noncompliance, the courts of justice may be
called upon by the aggrieved party to enforce its fulfillment.
Nature of Obligations

 Civil Obligations- obligations which give to the creditor or oblige a right under the law to enforce
their performance in courts of justice
 Natural Obligations- these are obligations, which, are not based on positive law but on equity
and natural law, do not grant a right of action to enforce their performance although in case of
voluntary fulfillment by the debtor, the latter may not recover hat has been delivered or rendered
by reason thereof.
Essential requisites of an obligation

 Passive subject (debtor or obligor)- he who has the duty to fulfill the obligation
 Active subject (creditor or oblige)- he who has the right to the fulfillment of the obligation
 Object or prestation (subject matter of the obligation)- the conduct required to be observed
by the debtor
 Juridical or legal tie (efficient cause)- binds or connects the parties to the obligation
Forms of obligations: manner to which the obligation is manifested or incurred: oral, written, partly
written or oral
Obligation, Right and Wrong

 Obligation is the act or performance which the law will enforce

 Right is the power which a personal has under the law, to demand from another any prestation
 Wrong is the omission of one party in violation of the legal right or rights
o A legal right in favor of a person (creditor/obligee/plaintiff)
o A correlative legal obligation of another to respect or not to violate said right
o An act or omission by the latter resulting to injury or damage.

Kinds of obligation: subject matter

 Real obligation: subject matter is a thing

 Personal obligation: subject matter is an act to be done or not to be done
o Positive- to do or to render service
o Negative- not to do or not to give
ARTICLE 1157. Obligations arise from law, contracts. Quasi-contracts, acts or omissions punished by
law, and quasi-delicts.

Classification of Sources

 Those emanating from law

 Those emanating from private acts
o Licit acts- contracts & quasi contracts
o Illicit acts- either punishable or not punishable
 But there are only two (2) sources: law and contracts
Sources

ARTICLE 1158. Obligations derived from laws are not presumed. Only those expressly determined in this
Code or in special laws are demandable and shall be regulated by the precepts of the law which
establishes them; and as to what has not been foreseen, by the provisions of this Book.

 Law- when they are imposed by the law itself

o Legal Obligations
 These are obligations arising from law. They are not presumed because they are
considered a burden upon the obligor. To be demandable, they must be clearly
set forth in the law.
ARTICLE 1159. Obligations arising from contracts have the force of law between the contracting parties
and should be complied with good faith.

 Contracts- when they arise from the stipulation from of the parties.
o Contractual obligations
 A contract is a meeting of minds between two (2) persons whereby one binds
himself, with respect to the other, to give something or to render some service.
 Binding force- obligations arising from contracts have the force of law
between the contracting parties
 Requirement of a Valid Contract- a contract is valid if it is not contrary
to law, morals, good customs, public order and public policy.
 Breach of Contract- a breach of contract takes place when a party fails
or refuses to comply, without legal reason or justification, with his
obligation under the contract as promised.
o Compliance in good faith
 It means compliance or performance in accordance with the stipulations or terms
of the contract or agreement. Sincerity and honesty must be observed to prevent
one party from taking unfair advantage over the other.
ARTICLE 1160. Obligations derived from quasi-contracts shall be subject to the provision of Chapter 1,
Title VVII of this Book.

 Quasi contracts- when they arise from lawful, voluntary, and unilateral acts which are
enforceable to the end that no one shall be unjustly enriched or benefited at the expense of
another. A quasi-contract is a juridical relation resulting from lawful, voluntary and unilateral
acts by virtue of which the parties become bound to each other to the end that no one will be
unjustly enriched or benefited at the expense of another.
o In a quasi-contract, there is no consent (no meeting of minds) but the same is supplied by
the fiction of law. The law considers the parties as having entered into a contract
although they have not actually done so and irrespective of their intention, to prevent
injustice or the unjust enrichment of a person at the expense of the other.
  Kinds of quasi-contracts
o Negotiorum gestio- voluntary management of the property or affairs of another without
the knowledge or consent of the latter.
o Solutio indebiti- the juridical relation which is created when something is received when
there is no right to demand it and it was unduly delivered through mistake with the
following requisites.
 There is no right to receive the thing delivered
 The thing was delivered through mistake
ARTICLE 1161. Civil Obligations arising form criminal offenses shall be governed by the penal laws,
subject to the provisions of article 2177, and of the pertinent provisions of Chapter 2, Preliminary Title, on
Human Relations, and of Title XVII of this Book, regulating damages.

 Crimes/Acts/Omissions punished by law- when they arise from civil liability which is the
consequence of a criminal offense.
o Commission of a crime causes not only moral evil but also material damage. Thus, every
person criminally liable for an act or omission is also civilly liable for damages.
o In crimes with no material damage (like contempt, insults to persons in authority,
gambling, violations of traffics regulations), there is no civil liability to be enforces. But, a
person not criminally liable may still be civilly liable, such as failure to pay a contractual
debt; causing damage to property without malicious or criminal intent.
 Scope of Civil Liability
o The civil liability includes: restitution, reparation for the damage caused,
indemnification for consequential damages

ARTICLE 1162. Obligations derived from quasi-delicts shall be governed by the provision of Chapter 2,
Title XVII of this Book, and by special laws.

 Obligations arising from quasi delicts

o A quasi-delict is an act or omission by a person (torfeasor) which causes damage to
another in his person, property, or rights giving rise to an obligation to pay for the damage
done, there being a fault or negligence but there is no pre-existing contractual relation
between the parties.
 Requisites of quasi-delict
o There must be an act or omission
o There must be fault or negligence
o There must be damage caused
o There must a direct relation or connection of cause and effect between the act or
omission and the damage
o There is no pre-existing contractual relation between the parties.

Crimes Quasi-delicts
Criminal or malicious intent or criminal negligence There is only negligence
The purpose is punishment Indemnification of the offended party
It affects public interest It concerns private interest
Criminal and civil liabilities Only civil liability
Criminal liability can not be compromised or Liability for quasi delict can be compromised as
settled by the parties themselves any other civil liability
Guilt of the accused must be proved beyond Fault or negligence of the defendant need only to
reasonable doubt be proved by preponderance of evidence